How To Get That Job, Part 1

Okay, so you've gone through school. You've learned about coding and databases and how best to build a binary search tree. You know the proper way to use interfaces and even how to build your own Operating System (why you'd want to do such a thing is something else to ponder altogether). In other words, you've got the skills.

Okay, so you consider yourself a real coder. You see your real-life friends spending a lot of time at the clubs or participating in some outdoor activity, whereas you are quite content spending your nights in front of your computer, honing your skills and becoming the best developer you can be.

You've got the degree. You've got the skills. Now, for the job.

It's no secret that the techie market is one of the hottest job markets out there. As long as you're in at least a decent sized town, chances are good there are going to be jobs available. Unfortunately, the world has caught on and there are more techies than ever before, looking for the same jobs you are. They have the same degree you do (or better!). They have skills, they have talent... and they want the job YOU want. So how do you beat them?

In this series of blog posts I'd like to give some pointers on how to land that perfect tech job. This is primarily for fellow programmers, but most can be useful for other techie jobs. Let's start with that most important first step - the resume!


First up: The Resume
I'm sure you've been told before how important it is to make a good first impression. Most of the jobs to which you apply will have multiple resumes that the employer will be sifting through. The key is to not only show off your skills and training, but to market yourself. It is unfortunately a fact that, in the techie world, the degree takes a back seat to experience. When your job experience is light, it can be challenging to be going against someone whose experiences measure in years instead of months. That's the bad news. The GOOD news is that there are ways of getting around this issue.

The reason experience speaks louder than academic achievement is that the employer wants to know that you know your stuff. You could have a 4.0 GPA and still not know how to code your way out of a paper box. The employer needs to know that YOU know what you say you know. As a programmer in this modern age, this becomes easier to accomplish than you might think. Here are some ways you can show off your skills:

• Build your own website. If you're going to be a web developer, show that you know what you're doing by having a web presence for that future employer to see. Use it as a testbed of new technologies you learn. Show off your graphic skills (if you have any - personally, my graphic skills rank somewhere around what you might see on a proud mom's refrigerator). Use your Javascript and Jquery knowledge to really make the website pop. Animations, interesting layout... anything and everything you can do to show off your skills, do so on that web site. In your resume, be sure to provide a link to your website and let your work speak for itself.
• Build an app for a mobile platform. This is takes more effort, but will be worth it. Be it Android or iPhone (or both), having an app out there that your future employer can download and use will go a LONG way towards getting you that job, even if the job you're applying for isn't mobile-based development. Completing an app from start to finish shows that you're able to complete a project, that you're up on some of the latest technologies, and most importantly, that you have the drive to succeed. All these things look very, very good - especially when compared to the other schleps who are trying to steal your position from you!
• Teach! This is a great thing to do, not just for sprucing up your resume but also for sprucing up your skills. When an employer sees that you're giving talks on a specific field of study for your local software development group, they are going to see that you obviously know your stuff. As well, it shows that you're able to communicate well with others to get your ideas across. This is a soft skill sorely lacking in the software development world. Simply put, we nerds are not known for out social skills. Showing that you have enough social skills to teach equates to having enough social skill to relate to your co-workers, and more importantly to the people that will be using the software you write.
• Have a techie blog. Having your own blog can be a lot of work, but it's really all about having a web presence. Your future employer is going to look you up and see what you're doing online. Yes, this also includes Facebook or Google+, but those are mostly private social stuff (which I hope you're locking down tight!) You also need an upfront presence that you would like people to see from the professional side. A proper Tech Blog will do just that for you. Think of something that interests you, and write about it. If you enjoy writing games, write about it. Talk about new stuff you've learned. Talk about cool ways you've learn to accomplish specific tasks. Be informative, be fun - but try to keep it professional as well. Note that I said professional, NOT BORING! Be yourself, but keep the R rated stuff on Facebook or other media where it's less public. Is that selling out, or being fake? Perhaps - but then again, most people are more than just a one-sided coin, wouldn't you say? Why not keep your best face forward, so to speak. Impress your employer, get that job... and leave your wild side to be viewed by those you really care about.

Putting all of the above information on your resume will go a long way in making up for your lack of job experience. The next step is putting it on your resume in a snazzy fashion.

Microsoft Word has literally dozens of resume templates that you can use to make your resume look professional. This is well and good, but it's really only a few sheets of paper, or just a PDF. Want to REALLY make your resume sizzle? Well, this is a shameless plug for something that I'm not personally tied to, but I can't help but recommend DoYouBuzz This website is just cool - it lets you build an online resume that you can use to give to prospective employers... That's all well and good, but it also lets you tie in and make reference to all your online activity you wish to provide. Got a blog? add it to your references! Got a Linked In account? Add it! Most anything that you might have as an online presence, you can add to your resume. Most of it is available for free, but there is a premium version you can pay for for a modest sum. It's up to you to decide whether it's worth the cost or not.


Well, I'd say that concludes my little soapbox on resumes. Next week I'll provide some insight on where to find that perfect job - there's more out there than Monster!